SYNONYMS | EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN
verb (used without object), con·fid·ed, con·fid·ing. to impart secrets trustfully; discuss private matters or problems (usually followed by in ): She confides in no one but her husband.
to have full trust; have faith: They confided in their own ability.
verb (used with object), con·fid·ed, con·fid·ing. to tell in assurance of secrecy: He confided all his plans to her.
to entrust; commit to the charge or knowledge of another: She confided her jewelry to her sister.
Origin of confide 1625–35; <
Latin confīdere, equivalent to
con- con- +
fīdere to trust, akin to
foedus; see
confederate ,
fidelity Related forms con·fid·er , noun pre·con·fide , verb, pre·con·fid·ed, pre·con·fid·ing. un·con·fid·ed , adjective well-con·fid·ed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for confides disclose ,
reveal ,
whisper ,
confess ,
impart ,
admit ,
suggest ,
breathe ,
intimate ,
hint ,
insinuate ,
buzz ,
tell ,
commend ,
relegate ,
bestow ,
consign ,
charge ,
delegate ,
commit Examples from the Web for confides Contemporary Examples of confides “You know, I never had a monstrous ego,” Mailer confides to a friend in l987.
When they complain that there is no future for them here,” she confides after a long pause, “I worry they are right.
“I dated someone for almost three years and we broke up two or three years ago,” Norton confides .
“No one wants to risk their tenure or promotion by speaking out of turn,” confides a senior professor.
He confides , with something like pride, that the feds are planning to indict him, along with Jerry, on a tax charge.
Historical Examples of confides And she confides her grief to the world with such charming discretion.
There is not a man he confides in who has not engaged to betray him.'
He confides in Leonard, because he is in possession of this precious quality.
To this Egyptian Pandora Satou confides the secret of his heart.
Why, Phedro confides in everybody, and so nobody ever believes him.
British Dictionary definitions for confides verb (usually foll by in; when tr, may take a clause as object ) to disclose (secret or personal matters) in confidence (to); reveal in private (to)
(intr foll by in ) to have complete trust
(tr) to entrust into another's keeping
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Derived Forms confider , noun Word Origin for confide C15: from Latin confīdere, from fīdere to trust; related to Latin foedus treaty
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for confides v. mid-15c., "to trust or have faith," from Latin confidere "to trust in, rely firmly upon, believe" (see confidence ). Meaning "to share a secret with" is from 1735; phrase confide in (someone) is from 1888. Related: Confided ; confiding .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
